SRC-CTC C.S.S.B. 831 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 831 77R9240 KLA-DBy: Moncrief Health & Human Services 3/8/2001 Committee Report (Substituted) DIGEST AND PURPOSE Currently, federal funds are newly available for states to create a Ticket to Work Buy-In Program that allows disabled individuals to work, but not lose their Medicaid benefits. C.S.S.B. 831 creates three pilot programs, one rural, one urban, and one in the Texas-Mexico border region, to take advantage of these funds. The Department of Human Services is directed to report the effectiveness of the pilot programs and make recommendations about statewide expansion. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 32B, Human Resources Code, by adding Section 32.053, as follows: Sec. 32.053. MEDICAL ASSISTANCE BUY-IN PILOT PROGRAM FOR CERTAIN RECIPIENTS WITH DISABILITIES. (a) Requires the Health and Human Services Commission or an agency operating part of the medical assistance program (department) to develop and implement a medical assistance buy-in pilot program (program) in accordance with the Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999 (Pub. L. No. 106170) to provide medical assistance to certain persons. (b) Requires the department to operate the program in three specific geographic areas of the state, each of which is located in a local workforce development area for which the local development board has received a federal work incentive grant under the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. Section 2801 et seq.), as amended, to provide employment services and supports to persons with disabilities. Requires the department to determine the pilot sites, with one site in an urban area, one site in a rural area, and one site in the Texas-Mexico border region. (c) Authorizes the department, in establishing the program, to set certain guidelines or conditions. (d) Requires the department, in establishing the program, to require a person who participates in the program to pay premiums to the extent required by 42 U.S.C. Section 1396o(g)(2). (e) Requires the department, not later than December 1, 2002, to submit a report to the presiding officer of each house of the legislature on the effectiveness of the program and the feasibility of expanding the program statewide. (f) Provides that this section expires September 1, 2003. SECTION 2. Requires the Texas Department of Human Services, not later than January 1, 2002, to develop and implement the program under Section 32.053, Human Resources Code, as added by this Act. SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2001. SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES SECTION 1. Amends As Filed S.B. 831 by amending the proposed eligibility requirements under Subsection (a). Increases the number of program sites from two to three and sets forth the criteria for the location of the program sites. Adds the requirement that the third site be in the Texas-Mexico border region. SECTION 2. No change. SECTION 3. No change.